Bathtub



Nov. 10, 1953 G. B. HANSBURG BATHTUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1949 INVENTOR. GEORGE B. HANSBURG Nov. 10, 1953 G- B. HANSBURG 2,658,204

BATHTUB Filed June 13, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 3' eaolzes 2,. HANSBURG BYE: W

ATTORN EY.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE B B EP c'erse B- Behsbu e ter a le N. Application Jun v1. 9s. @1N9-. 98 687 (Cl. 4 177) Thi invention relates to bath tlibs with Weighing devices and herein disclosed in some detai1 as mb i in a so 'cal ed baby n as, bat tub with an incorporated weighing device,

So-called canvas folding tubs forbathing babies are known and sonre hav'ebeen produced with a rigid platform inside npon which a baby may be rested while being dried or being dressed, but it is found that such platforms are so likely to tilt and the tubswere so collapsible that no a is y w h n 1 m? Wi e a tac d to them. h

Moreover, generally the tubs were so nonstructed that the platiqlili wa normally at the ba k he tub a d s nne -y ne h d t be lifted out (a hazardous von) while the platform was set i); the ,tub; Thus the baby .had to be handled while wet and the platform added lithe i9 cavemen hn th by- It has been found that weighingQdeviccs .so attached often show weight incorrect by several ounces or more so seriously mislead a fond mother n i all rimme 314 5 Moreover, many forms of weighing devices prove unsatisfactory inpnskilledhands when attached so as to be}operated by such a platform as has hitherto been provided. Some devices have had to be too large to work efiectively. :Qthers have had to be carefully levelled or the baby carefully centered the platform. Stil l o her ar easily de an d b skil ed handlin According to the present invention the foregoing and other diiliculties and objections are overcome and a combined tub and weighing :device is provided whieh is foolF-proof which provides the necessary rigidity, yvl iich of satisfactory lightness i e o om cal 9 b i d/find is rugged enough to withsta d a great dealer-abuse.

In the form shown some detail, a so-called canvas tub of conventional form issuspended by horizontal rods connectihg the tops of a pair of pairs of pivoted crossed legs. In the for-1n of tub shown other "rods nsuall'y connect the pairs of legs near their bottom ends to form a satisfactory frame.

In the form shown theplatfonn is within the tub but suppo ted independently o t, be ng for that reason carried by straps which may take the form of front straps attached to a front cross bail near itsends, and below-the top of'the tub and outside of it, andrear strapsattaehed to a rear bail near its ends behind thetub and outside of it.

In the for-m shown therplatform maybe. raised from its submerged positi'omto either or twopositions, one for dressing and one for weighing.

In thi ra ns ett n the platform by th straps, the straps are shown as moving .on idler rolls carried by the front and rear horizontal rods .ofthe the frame top. And the platform shown is carried by front and rear rods only, so that it may ,droop in the center.

In th gh n Posi on he la o m sh wn @S 1P Q t d in r m by h Straps fb l di but the back edge shown as then supported by a single central weighing strap, short enough to leave the other rear straps slack, so that the Singl e t a st a car i t ho e W g n borne by the front straps;

In the form shown the central strap is attached to a etoothd fa'oklof' a weight indicator, so that when a weight is set on the platform the rack is ulled down, a ainst the tension of a suitable spring, and the teeth tam a toothed wheel. T t h d w i shown his tu n a w htindicatirig pointer to an extent governed by the spring.

To make the tension on the spring uniformly o ortiona o th Wei t, t central s p s sh wn va ha u d rnea h a r l e o n on ball bearings beneath the rack so the pull is always unchanged by any friction and is in the identical direction, and the central strap is shown as reaching forward on an inolineto theplatform.

Since the platform is fastened to the-front straps, and they are pulled to a uniform position by the front-bail, the tension on the central strap is proportional toithe weight .on the plat- :iorm.

The platform is shown as supported solely by front an rhaq sr d r ai s o th t t ay s slightly along the center line and thus always t nd t hol the law cent a y-o h plat or To properly utilize this sagging of the platform,

he o t r st ucture i sh n vas ri i 'To obtain the adequate rigidity of structure to effect epara wei hin cv p' f l ss at Ieachend of the tub are shown asadapted to be firmly" held by substantial close fitting hooks, eachfln rq dhnph l e 9 ana d closelyv s ning ailing or projecting rivet on the other leg of the pain This rigid structure provides connections such that theslight' shrinking or stretching of the front straps or central rear strap has little or negligible effect on the weight shown by the pointer, and thedrooping'of the center of the platform tends to uniformly center the baby every time it is weighed."

In the from shown the weight indicating pointeristmountedttoturnon the front of arigid splash board, which is shown as also carrying in tub avoids need for the extra expense of a weigh-g j ing scale. She also avoids need for moving the baby to and from separate scales and thus avoids exposing the baby to unnecessary drafts.

To enable the tube structure to be light enough for the average mother to move with ease it may be constructed, for the most part of thin aluminum alloy tubing.

The crossed legs are preferably of rectangular aluminum alloy tubing, with open ends covered by thin long-skirted rubber caps, and they are advantageously cross-connected by thin aluminum alloy tubing inch outside diameter. These tubing ends are best closed by brass washers having projecting lugs that fit in notches in the ends of the tube wall, so that when the projecting walls of the tube are spun down over the washer at each end a brass screw may be threaded safely and securely into the washer. It is found that such a tube with its closed ends may be of sufficient strength even though it weighs no more than six ounces although 34 inches long.

The rectangular tubes are of such rigidity that it has been found safe to provide small central openings in their flat sides so that a tray support may be hooked into them, thus enabling the mother or nurse with the much desired convenient shelf find soap and towel at the end of the tub. But no hooks project from the legs, thus liability to accident is greatly reduced.

The tub and weighing and dressing platform are readily made of suitable strong light plastic and the platform is preferably perforated to drain rapidly, marked with space to center baby for weighing and includes an air-filled head cushion.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

Fig. 1 shows the tub structure in front view.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an opposite end view partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a front view partly in section of the weighing connection and one end.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the weighing connections.

Fig. 6 is a view in section showing how a shelf hooks on.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the end of a rod.

Fig. 8 shows the same assembled.

In the form shown a fabric or sheet flexible plastic tub proper ID is held by being stitched around a front cross rod ll and a rear cross rod l2, and the front cross rod l l is shown as joining the tops of two legs [3 and I4 which slope rearwardly and downwardly.

The rear cross rod 12 is shown as joining the tops of two legs l5 and I6 which slope down wardly and forwardly to cross the legs 13 and 14, being pivoted on the cross-bar I! which joins the outer legs [3 and I4 at the pivot point, as more fully explained below.

In the form shown, the device also includes an additional top front cross-bar I8 and top rear cross bar l9 which respectively join the legs [3 and i4 and I5 and IS.

The legs [5 and I6 are shown as joined, about half-way between their bottoms and the pivot bar IT by a cross-bar 20, and the legs l3 and H are shown as joined at about the same height by a cross-bar 2 I.

In the form shown the legs l3, l4, l5 and I6, are in the form of thin rectangular tubes of aluminum alloy and the cross-bars are shown as thin aluminum alloy tubes.

It is found that sufficient stability in the device for all ordinary use is obtained when the crossbars I8 and IQ (for example) are united to the legs by the type of joint shown in Figs. '7 and 8. In these figures, for example, the tubular crossbar I8 is diagrammatically shown as terminating in a special form of steel or brass washer 22 having radially projecting lugs 23 adapted to seat themselves in radial cuts 24 in the sides of the tube IS.

The projecting ends 25 of the tube wall are then sweated down over the outer face of the washer 22. The joint is made by passing the end of the rod I8, for example, through a close fitting opening in the near wall 26 of the hollow leg l4, so that it lies against the interior of the further wall 21 and then threading a broadheaded screw 28 into the threaded central opening 29 of the washer so that its head seizes the wall 21 firmly. If desired a brass washer may be interposed between the head of the screw 28 and the wall 21 to spread the grip of the screw.

Such a joint gives great rigidity to the frame of the device. While the cross-bars H and [2 are shown with such joints, the device has been found satisfactory when those bars lack the washer 22 and screw 28 and are held solely bylying in close-fitting openings in the near wall of the leg and close against the inner face of the further wall of the leg.

The tub Ill proper is adapted to fold up its end walls 30, and is kept stretched in shape by the structure which includes holding hooks described below.

The baby is usually laid upon a stretched sheet or platform device 3| shown as held above the water in the tub in Fig. 3, and then weighed, bathed, dried and dressed.

To support the platform device in the Fig. 3 position the device was supported at the rear by a tab 32 located centrally of the rear edge rod 33 holding the sheet platform 3| extended, and the tab 32 is shown as hooked to an oblong stud 34 on a strap 35 forming part of a spring weighing device (Fig.5).

' The front rod 36 of the sheet 3| is shown as supported at each end by a tape device 31, running over a roller 38 and caught around a front bail 39. The bail 39 is shown as round and, for convenience in drawing, as solid and bent around .at 4|] at each end so that it is pivoted at Ma on the side of one ofthe front legs l3 and I4.

Thus when the baby lies on the sheet 3| for weighing it is supported at the center by the tab 32 and the front tape device 3'! at each end. Since there are no end rods, the baby tends to center itself in the shallow sagging of the, sheet All the foregoing operation and description is based on the holding of the ball 39 in the top locking loop 40a of the locking bail 4| pivoted on the bar [8, and held in looking position .by a long spring 42 anchoredin the pivot bar l1.

When the baby has been weighed the oblong Qatar stud 34 is turned to release the tabr32, allowing the sheet 31 to fall slightly so that it is then supported by a tape device 43 attached to each end of the rod3-3. The tape devices 43 allow the sheet 3I to drop very slightly because the ends 44 of the tapes are caught on a rear bail 45 having ends 46 curved so as to be pivoted at 41 on the rear legs I5 and I6.

The bail ends 46 are extended as bell cranks 48 beyond the pivots 41 and are shown as connected by links 49. to rearward extensions of bail 39 so that when the bail 39 is raised or lowered the ball 45 is almost equally raised or lowered, with the result that the sheet 3| rises and falls almost equally at the front and back and is approximately level. The term approximate is used because it is found useful to have the front bail 3! swing on longer arms than the rear bail.

When the tab 32 has been released, the tape devices 43 support the rear of the sheet 3|. The locking bail 4| may be then swung out releasing the bail 39 and that bail rises allowing the front tape device 31 to slide over the rollers 38 under the weight of the baby and the rear tape devices slide in unison by reason of the same weight and the connecting link 49. The ball 39 serves as a handle to allow the sheet 3| to fall slowly and gently.

When the baby has been bathed the bail 39 may be depressed, carrying down the bail 45, so

that the front tapes 31 and rear tapes 43 raise the sheet 3 I. In the device shown they raise it clear of the Water and hold it there by catching in a second loop 5|) of the locking bail 4 I.

Thus the baby is lifted clear of the water without being touched by any hand. The sheet 3I is preferably perforated as at 5| in an area indicating the proper position of the baby for weighing it, so water drains off, and may leave the sheet 3| substantially dry if made of suitable waterrepellant material.

The babys head preferably has been resting on a shallow air cushion 52 to lift it safely in the water and, if desired, held by a releasable strap 53 attached to the sheet 3 I.

Th baby can now be dried and dressed without lifting it off the sheet 3|, so all the danger of the slipping of hands on a wet baby is eliminated.

The rigidity referred to above may easily be obtained by hooks at each end pivoted on the pivots 4Ia adapted to catch firmly on pivots 41, and may be equally obtained by shelf supports 55 having hooks 56 adapted to enter small openings 51 in the upper parts of the legs I3 and IE or I4 and I5 and thus lock the legs against collapsing.

The supports 55 may form a heavy wire frame having a central loop 58 in which hangs a wire rod 59 adapted to be inserted in a projecting stud 60 formed as an extension of the screw at the joint of the pivot rod I1 with the legs on either side. The shelf 6I carried by the supports 55 may be a standard metal form with turned over edges to fit on the frame 55, 58, 55.

The Weighing device is connected to the strap above a ball bearing roller under and around which the strap passes so that it always pulls on the arm 63 of the weighing device at the same angle.

The arm 63 is shown as an extension of a pivoted toothed quadrant 64, normally drawn up by a spring 65, and meshing with a pinion 66 on the shaft 61 of a pointer 68.

The shaft '61 passes through the rigid metal splash board 15 fast to the tops of the legs 15 and I6, so. the pointer is in front and easily read on its graduated dial 69.

The spring 65 may be readily adjusted by a thumb screw 10 turning in a standard 1| on the mounting 12 of the weighing mechanism, and the quadrant 64 may be adjusted by a thumb screw 13 on another standard 14 on the mounting 12. v

The mounting "may be a small brass or steel plate of adequate rigidity mounted on the splash board 15 which may be thin aluminum sheet with deep turned over flange 16 to give it rigidity yet lightness.

A rigid splash board gives adequate protection to an air thermometer and a water thermometer 11 sunk in a suitable depression and having a bulb adapted to lie on or near the bottom of the tub connected to the usual glass tube indicator by a well-known type of flexible connection;

Thelower cross rods 20 and 2| may carry, sewed to them, as the flexible tube fabric is sewed to its rods, a fabric shelf 80, and the tub fabric may be extended down behind the bail 4| to form depending pockets 8 I.

It is found that the structure thus described, without its detachable shelf 4H and shelf frame 55, may weigh no more than 14 pounds and yet withstand ordinary domestic wear and tear.

The open bottoms of the rectangular legs are shown as closed by rubber caps 82 which fit down over the sides of the legs which may be bent to fit fiat on the floor.

The tops of the legs I3 and I4 may be closed by similar caps 83, and the bottom flange 84 of the splash board 15 may close the tops of the legs I5 and I 6.

Having thus described certain embodiments of the invention, what is claimed is:

1. The combination with a tub body of a frame in which the tub is supported, a platform device within the tub, flexible straps attached to the front of the platform device and carried over the front of the tub, flexible straps attached to the rear of the platform device and carried over the rear of the tub, a front bail to which the front straps are attached, a rear bail to which the rear straps are attached, linkages connecting the bails so they rise and. fall together, a weighing device on the frame behind the tub, means for supporting the rear of the platform by the weighing device, and a holding device adapted to hold the platform in one position to support the platform by all the straps and to hold the platform in another position to relieve the rear straps of load and to support it by the front straps and by said means for supporting it by the weighing device.

2. The combination with a tub body, of a frame in which the tub is supported, a platform device Within the tub, strap devices supporting the front of the platform, strap devices supporting the rear of the platform, a weighing device carried by the frame, linkages for moving the front supporting devices and the rear supporting devices in unison to raise and lower the platform device, and means connected to the weighing device relieving the rear supporting devices of their load when the platform device is lowered.

3. The combination with a tub body, of a frame in which the tub is supported, a platform device within the tub, strap devices supporting the front of the platform, strap devices supporting the rear of the platform, a weighing device carried by the frame, linkages for moving the front supporting devices and the rear supporting devices in unison to raise and lower the platform device, and normally disconnected means connected to the weighing device relieving the rear supporting devices of their load when the platform device is lowered.

4. The combination with a tub body, of a frame in which the tub is supported, a platform device within the tub, and normally tending to sag, strap devices drawing on and supporting the front of the platform, strap devices drawing on and supporting the rear of the platform, a weighing device carried by the frame, linkages for movin the front supporting devices and the rear supporting devices in unison to raise and lower the platform device, and means connected to the weighing device relieving the rear supporting devices of their load when the platform device is lowered.

5. The combination with a tub body, of a frame in which the tub is supported, a platform device within the tub, and normally tending to sag, strap devices drawing on and supporting the front of the platform, strap devices drawing on and supporting the rear of the platform, a weighing device carried by the frame, connections including a front and a rear bail, and linkages joining them for moving the front supporting devices and the rear supporting devices in unison to raise and lower the platform device, and normally disconnected means connected to the weighing device relieving the rear supporting devices of their load when the platform device is lowered.

GEORGE B. HANSBURG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,408,553 Wedemann Mar. 7, 1922 1,802,147 Hansburg Apr. 21, 1931 2,108,398 Allen Feb. 15, 1938 2,499,094 Greenbaum Feb. 28, 1950 

